Drip pan for flush tanks



April 25, 1939. F. c. BRAATZ DRIP PAN FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed April 16, 1938 h M W c K n W F.

Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIP PAN FOR FLUSH TANKS Frank C. Braatz, Chicago, Ill. Application April 16, 1938, Serial No. 202,530

1 Claim.- (01. 4--252) My invention relates to improvements in drip pans for the flush tanks of toilets and the primary object-in view is to provide an inexpensive, efiicient device of this character which may be readily applied to standard flush tanks to trap and drain condensations forming thereon into the toilet bowl.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the following description, and defined in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawing: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a drip pan constructed in accordance with my invention, Figure 2 is a view in front elevation, and Figure 3 is a view in end elevation.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, thedrip pan of my invention comprises a hopperllke bottom I of substantially the same size as the bottom of the flush tank, represented at 2 in dotted lines, said bottom having an edge flange 3 adapted to fit upwardly over the sides of said tank 2 with aslight clearance between said flange and tank. In the transverse center of the pan and extending inwardly from the rear edge thereof is a. slot 4 adapted to receive the usual delivery pipe 5 of said tank 2. Adjacent the appropriate end of the pan is a similar slot 6 also extending inwardly from the rear edge of the pan and for accommodating the usual supply pipe 1 leading to said tank 2. The bottom I of the pan is upturned around the edges of the slots 4 and 6 to provide flanges 8 and 9 of less depth than the flange 3. Beneath the inner end of the slot 4 is a U-clamp I0 suitably fixed to the bottom I to span the delivery pipe 5, and

including a bolt I I and wing nut I2 whereby said clamp may be secured, ina manner which will be readily understood, around said pipe 5. The

clamp I0 is secured to the bottom I as by cars- I3 thereon soldered or otherwise suitably affixed to said bottom. A drain pipe I4 is secured at one end, as by soldering, to the underside of the bottom I in front of the slot 4- and to extend forwardly over the bowl, not shown, of the toilet.

As will now be seen the pan of my invention is adapted to be fitted to the pipes 5 and I with said pipes disposed in the front ends of the slots 4 and 6 and the flanges 8 and 9 fitting part way around said pipes. In the rear of the pipes 5 and I the slots 4 and 6 are closed by transversely arcuate closure plates I5 and I6 fitting over the flanges 8 and 9 against displacement.

The described device may be formed of any suitable material such as sheet steel or tin, the pipe I4 being preferably of copper or other bendable material so that it may be flexed to fit over the toilet bowl as occasion may require.

Referring to the use of the invention, the condensation collecting on the tank 2 drains down into thedescribed pan to gravitate into the lowest part thereof, which as will be clear is the center, and drains into the toilet bowl by way of the pipe Id. The flanges 8 and 9 prevent the condensation from escaping by way of the slots 4 and 6 and the plates I5 and I6 prevent dust and dirt from accumulating in the pan by way of the slots.4 and 6.

The invention will, it is believed, be readily understood from the foregoing without further explanation.

Manifestly modifications in the invention, as described, may be resorted to without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

A device of the class described for use beneath a fiush tank having a pair of delivery and supply pipes extending to the bottom thereof adjacent the center and one end of the tank, respectively,

comprising a pan having a hopper-like bottom adapted to be disposed beneath said tank, an

edge flange surrounding said bottom and fitting around the bottom of the tank with a slight clearance between the same and said tank, said bottom having a pair of slots extending inwardly from the rear edge, whereby said pan may be manipulated rearwardly to locate the pipes in the inner ends of said slots and elevated along the pipes to the bottom of the tank, said pan being provided with edge flanges around said slots to prevent leakage therethrough, removable cover plates for said slots fitting over the edge flanges thereof and between the edge flange of the pan and said pipes and enclosed in the elevated position of the pan by the' latter and the bottom of the tank against access thereto, a. clamp on the bottom of the pan attachable to the delivery pipe to hold the pan in elevated p0sition, and a. drain pipe extending from the bottom of the pan.

FRANK C. BRAATZ. 

